Tate McDermott was a 12-year-old in the crowd when the Queensland Reds won their last title, and now he’s savouring the taste of victory as one of their key players.
The scheming halfback from Mudjimba rejoiced after helping the team win this year’s Super Rugby AU crown with a 19-16 win over ACT Brumbies in Brisbane.
“It’s unbelievable,” he told sunshinecoastnews.com.au
“It’s been 10 years between premierships for the Reds, so to be part of the squad that breaks the drought is amazing.”
“As a player, all you want to do is win.
“I was there in the crowd during the 2011 game, and to be on the other side of the fence and lifting the trophy with some of my best mates is a dream come true.”
The Sunshine Coast Grammar product had more than 20 family members and friends in the stands cheering him on, and they celebrated together after the game.
“It was special to have my family there,” he said.
“It was awesome to see them after the game. They were pretty stoked.
“And there were a lot of Grammar boys who I played quite a bit with, up in the nosebleeds.”
McDermott, who made his debut for the team in 2017, expected the title win to boost the profile of the code in Queensland.
“It was a big deal for it to be on free to air television,” he said.
“There are areas of Queensland that are rugby league or AFL strongholds but hopefully we’ve cracked into them a bit. It’s really important for us to continue to grow the game there.
“The only way rugby is going to be able to keep growing there, is if we keep playing good footy.
“I think it’s just the beginning for rugby in Queensland.
“We need the Wallabies to do really well as well, but this was a step in the right direction.”
The Reds reached the final last year, before bowing out to the Brumbies.
McDermott said that campaign helped drive them to success this season.
“I think that was the difference this year, just having more experience,” he said.
“We played terribly in the final last year, but we’ve had an amazing season this year.
“Thorny (coach Brad Thorn) has built depth in the squad so the boys who come on really add something.”
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McDermott ran less, kicked more and adopted a leadership role.
“A halfback has to have a good relationship with the fly-half (James O’Connor) and the forwards, and I think that’s where I grew the most, making sure I directed the boys around the park well,” he said.
The Reds aren’t finished their quest for glory in 2021, because they are due to play in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, which includes the five Super Rugby AU teams and the five Super Rugby Aotearoa teams.
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But he also has one eye on a berth in the Australian team.
“I’ve got goals and aspirations to go and get that No.9 jersey at the Wallabies,” he said.
“I’ve still got a lot of work to do in and around that space, to really take that off Nic White at the Brumbies.
“But that’s the goal, and that’s every halfback’s goal, to play for Australia.
“We all want to eventually wear that gold jersey.”
McDermott has two caps to his name, debuting against New Zealand in Sydney last year, but he’s desperate to get regular game time on the international stage.
“I got a taste of it last year, but not as much as I would have liked,” he said.
“I’m not focused on it at the moment because I still need to continue to play well for Queensland (for the next six weeks), but after that I’ll start to look at the Wallabies.”
